Russell J. Bowen Collection on Intelligence, Security and Covert Activities

The library has received on deposit from Colonel Russell J. Bowen a collection of more than 4,000 books on intelligence, espionage, covert activities, and national security. The Bowen Collection includes books and documents of the United States, England, France, Germany, Japan, USSR, and other countries. The scope of the collection extends over several hundred years, and includes wars and conflicts in Europe, the American Revolution, the Civil War in the United States, the World Wars and other events. Intelligence and espionage activities during World War II, the Cold War, and recent events are extensively documented. The Bowen Collection may be the largest body of published intelligence material in any university library.

Colonel Bowen deposited this collection at Georgetown because of his desire to have it used for the advancement of research, writing, and education pertaining to intelligence. It is located in Special Collections and is available for use by scholars, researchers, and students. The National Intelligence Study Center, directed by Dr. Ray S. Cline, is providing financial assistance for preparation and publication of a catalog which will facilitate access to and utilization of the Bowen Collection.